02/24/2005

Loose talk

It is important to get to the bottom of things, but it
is also important for public officials not to peddle half-baked
theories with little supporting evidence.

So far so good. Unfortunately, the editors then go
on to affirm their solidly pro-Democrat credentials by means of an out-of-left field comparison of Hinchey's remarks to the Iraq WMD issue:

In
comparison with the Iraq debacle, Hinchey's recent remarks were
definitely no harm/no foul. Yet both instances illustrate why it is
important for our leaders to be sure of information before they present
it to their constituents. Most people still trust their leaders to tell
them the truth and make life and death decisions based on what they
say.

Hinchey said he did not believe he was being irresponsible
by publicly theorizing about the matter. He said he owed it to his
constituents to let them how he thinks.

"I have a responsibility to
report (my theories) to my constituents and tell them conclusions or
ideas that I am working on or believe based upon my analysis and
interpretation of the facts," Hinchey said Monday.

Hinchey said Wednesday he never accused Karl Rove, Bush's top
political adviser, of being behind the bogus documents and has no proof
of that. But he believes it nonetheless. "My suspicion and my theory is
that it's likely to be the White House political operation headed up by
Karl Rove," Hinchey said. "The proof is circumstantial."